Anita Baker Fought Her Label To Deliver the Classic "Rapture"
DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray honor the brilliant album that was omnipresent in their childhoods.
“Anita Baker had to put on her boxing gloves and go to court so that she can get out of her deal.”
- Jay Ray
It’s a lawsuit win against Beverly Glen Records, the former musical home of Anita Baker, that made it possible for us to get Rapture. On Queue Points, DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray revisit Rapture‘s 40th, Anita’s Detroit grind from Chapter 8, to Beverly Glen Records, to Elektra ultimately releasing one of the most important albums of the 1980s.
In the shadow of the crack era, Rapture was a Gen X kid’s lifeline to understanding their parents musical sensibilities. It sat along side Black women Pop darlings like Janet, Whitney and Patti to become a force all its own. She balanced emotion with pure crossover power.
Anita didn’t need a "nice girl" persona—she had the voice, the tunes, and command of her art on her terms. The record has become Quiet Storm radio gold in the years since its release.
“I guarantee you somebody was conceived to [Been So Long].”
- DJ Sir Daniel
Forty years later, the awards are stacked, and the production remains pristine. Play it front-to-back; it’s still the ultimate seduction. Enjoy this full episode as we honor this gem.
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